Startup Campus - by Mike Alvarez Cohen (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

How did the University of California, Berkeley--once skeptical of involvement with commercial activities--transform into a leader in entrepreneurship and startups? And how did the campus manage that transformation in ways that have advanced the university's mission of research, education, and public service?

Startup Campus tells the story of Berkeley's reinvention from the perspective of faculty, staff, and alumni who led the campus's transformation. Starting with the early days of the digital technology and biotechnology revolutions to today's climate tech and social ventures, the book traces how Berkeley built a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem that spans every stage of the startup journey--from ideation and incubation to acceleration and scale up.

Rich with insights and firsthand accounts, this is more than Berkeley's story. It's a case-study for how universities can create societal impact while also driving social mobility. Follow Berkeley's six-phase evolution from its early tensions with corporate collaborations to its current exuberance for entrepreneurship and startups. Through stories of Berkeley founders and their ventures, discover how the university overcame institutional resistance, resolved cultural conflicts, and harnessed its thriving innovation ecosystem.

Whether you're a university leader, government official, interested in how institutions reinvent themselves, or curious about the future of higher education, Startup Campus offers insights about managing change, nurturing entrepreneurship, and creating lasting impact.

Learn how one of the world's great universities reimagined itself for the twenty-first century, and what other institutions can glean from its journey.

About the Author

As the director of innovation ecosystem development at UC Berkeley, Mike Alvarez Cohen drives initiatives and agreements that catalyze the commercialization of new technologies developed on the campus. Mike collaborates with faculty, students, startup companies, large corporations, entrepreneurs, investors, and attorneys. He has worked with hundreds of startups, and he has spearheaded the licensing of over 100 innovations in numerous areas including biofuels, medical devices, nano technologies, novel materials, photovoltaics, robotics, semiconductors, software, smart grid, wireless sensors, and biomimetic inventions.

In addition to his work at UC Berkeley, Mike has held board, executive, product management, marketing, business development, and engineering positions at technology companies including HP, Sun Microsystems, Mips Computer Systems, Silicon Graphics, Netpulse Networks (as founding CEO), and Peak Democracy (acquired by OpenGov). Mike has MBA and engineering degrees from Harvard and Tufts.

Mike and his wife live in Berkeley where he pursues many personal interests, including writing speculative fiction.